BROWN V.BOARD OF EDUCATION What would break the back of Jim Crow America? What role did education play in the movement to desgregate America?
SETTING THE STAGE- Were you successful? What did your learn in the activity (just think about it ....) Yes, the judge said that the school system must obey the supreme court ruling. I learned that African Americans had to walk for miles to get to their school. Also, they lacked study spaces, textbooks, buses. The buildings were not in a good condition and it got cold during the winter. If you complained about your school, KKK burned your house. Petitioning the school board didn't help because they just said they didn't have enough money to buy buses. They couldn't enroll because the school board wouldn't except them (so NAACP sometimes sue them). If you staged a school walkout the principle might have gotten fired even if he or she wasn't involved in it. Lastly, you couldn't lobby lawmakers because they would not listen unless you voted for them.
THE BASIC FACTS OF THE CASES (more than one) Make a bulleted list of the basic facts of the cases brought to the Supreme Court
1. Linda had to walk 21 blocks to her nearest "black" school when there was a white school only 7 blocks away. The chief justice, 2. Oliver Brown sued the board of education (Topeka, Kansas). 3. Earl Warren read this case to be unequal. Many newspaper writers objected.
THE MAIN ARGUMENTS OF THE PLAINTIFF (for integration) List the major arguments of the plaintiffs
1. Plessy V. Ferguson did not follow the fourteenth amendment, which forbids racial segregation 2. 14th Amendment allowed gov. to prohibit any discriminatory state action based on race. This includes public schools. 3. The 14th Amendment didn't specifically say whether the states would be allowed to establish segregated education. 4. Psychological testing have proved tath segregation is harmful to the minds of African American children.
THE MAIN ARGUMENTS OF THE DEFENDANTS (for segregation) List the major arguments of the Defendants
1. Constitution didn't require white and African American children to attend the same schools 2. Social separation of blacks and whites was a regional custom 3. states should be left free to regulate their own social affairs. 4. Segregation was not harmful to black people. 5. it would take some time before they were able to compete with white children in the same classroom.
THE CHANGE IN THE COURT (leading to a decision) What important change happened in the Supreme Court, and what was its impact?
The Supreme Court heard the Brown vs. Board of Education in 1952, and the justices had differing opinions about the case. Some thought it was unrealistic to integrate schools, and doubted the Court had the “constitutional authority to end school segregation.” Earl Warren, a new member of the Supreme Court, brought a unanimous decision to the court to overturn Plessy.
THE COURT DECISION (in your own words) What did the Supreme Court decide in the landmark decision?
Earl Warren and other attorneys were confused on whether the 14th amendment was intended to allow segregated education. He strongly believed the separate but equal portion of the amendment applied to transportation, not public education. He believed education was the most important aspect of a government, and education segregation deprived African Americans of equal protection under law and due process.
ENFORCING THE DECISION (discuss "with all deliberate speed) What was the Court's statement about the enforcement of the decision? What happened to the enforcement?
The Supreme Court’s decision on the Brown vs. Board of Education case ended up being that segregation was in fact unconstitutional. The Court ordered segregation should end with “all deliberate speed,” but many people were confused on how to do that, so it opened up the opportunity for segregationist resistance. There was a large militant campaign of defiance and resistance by segregationists for the Court’s decision.
THE IMPACT and LEGACY What is the overall importance and legacy of Brown v. Board?
Both African Americans and whites were determined in this decision. Blacks worked to enforce the Brown decision, and whites southerners intensely resisted the decision. The Brown decision inspired people to create broader campaigns for social justice, especially those for ethnic minorities, women, and other groups striving for equality.
What would break the back of Jim Crow America? What role did education play in the movement to desgregate America?
SETTING THE STAGE - Were you successful? What did your learn in the activity (just think about it ....)
Yes, the judge said that the school system must obey the supreme court ruling. I learned that African Americans had to walk for miles to get to their school. Also, they lacked study spaces, textbooks, buses. The buildings were not in a good condition and it got cold during the winter. If you complained about your school, KKK burned your house. Petitioning the school board didn't help because they just said they didn't have enough money to buy buses. They couldn't enroll because the school board wouldn't except them (so NAACP sometimes sue them). If you staged a school walkout the principle might have gotten fired even if he or she wasn't involved in it. Lastly, you couldn't lobby lawmakers because they would not listen unless you voted for them.
THE BASIC FACTS OF THE CASES (more than one)
Make a bulleted list of the basic facts of the cases brought to the Supreme Court
1. Linda had to walk 21 blocks to her nearest "black" school when there was a white school only 7 blocks away. The chief justice,
2. Oliver Brown sued the board of education (Topeka, Kansas).
3. Earl Warren read this case to be unequal. Many newspaper writers objected.
THE MAIN ARGUMENTS OF THE PLAINTIFF (for integration)
List the major arguments of the plaintiffs
1. Plessy V. Ferguson did not follow the fourteenth amendment, which forbids racial segregation
2. 14th Amendment allowed gov. to prohibit any discriminatory state action based on race. This includes public schools.
3. The 14th Amendment didn't specifically say whether the states would be allowed to establish segregated education.
4. Psychological testing have proved tath segregation is harmful to the minds of African American children.
THE MAIN ARGUMENTS OF THE DEFENDANTS (for segregation)
List the major arguments of the Defendants
1. Constitution didn't require white and African American children to attend the same schools
2. Social separation of blacks and whites was a regional custom
3. states should be left free to regulate their own social affairs.
4. Segregation was not harmful to black people.
5. it would take some time before they were able to compete with white children in the same classroom.
THE CHANGE IN THE COURT (leading to a decision)
What important change happened in the Supreme Court, and what was its impact?
The Supreme Court heard the Brown vs. Board of Education in 1952, and the justices had differing opinions about the case. Some thought it was unrealistic to integrate schools, and doubted the Court had the “constitutional authority to end school segregation.” Earl Warren, a new member of the Supreme Court, brought a unanimous decision to the court to overturn Plessy.
THE COURT DECISION (in your own words)
What did the Supreme Court decide in the landmark decision?
Earl Warren and other attorneys were confused on whether the 14th amendment was intended to allow segregated education. He strongly believed the separate but equal portion of the amendment applied to transportation, not public education. He believed education was the most important aspect of a government, and education segregation deprived African Americans of equal protection under law and due process.
ENFORCING THE DECISION (discuss "with all deliberate speed)
What was the Court's statement about the enforcement of the decision? What happened to the enforcement?
The Supreme Court’s decision on the Brown vs. Board of Education case ended up being that segregation was in fact unconstitutional. The Court ordered segregation should end with “all deliberate speed,” but many people were confused on how to do that, so it opened up the opportunity for segregationist resistance. There was a large militant campaign of defiance and resistance by segregationists for the Court’s decision.
THE IMPACT and LEGACY
What is the overall importance and legacy of Brown v. Board?
Both African Americans and whites were determined in this decision. Blacks worked to enforce the Brown decision, and whites southerners intensely resisted the decision. The Brown decision inspired people to create broader campaigns for social justice, especially those for ethnic minorities, women, and other groups striving for equality.